Foundation helps those living hand-to-mouth

Community Foundation for Calderdale's Emma Woods-Bolger pictured with Asda, Halifax, community champion Amanda Clegg as they distribute food parcels to dozens of families across Calderdale

Published:11:00Monday 16 February 2015

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A charitable foundation has distributed food parcels to help some of the thousands of Calderdale families living in poverty.

Shocking statistics recently revealed that 9,000 children are growing up in poverty-stricken homes across the region.

Community Foundation for Calderdale (CFFC) has partnered with Ovenden’s Kevin Pearce Children Centre and Elland’s Children Centre to identify families most in need.

During January, one of the toughest financial months for many low-income families, CFFC supplied vulnerable families food parcels containing essential groceries and cereal to make sure children can eat before school. Each pack also contained a leaflet with recipe ideas to make from the donated ingredients.

Research suggests 60 per cent of families with an income less than £17,000 have been forced to cut back on food.

A local mother who received a food pack said: “The food parcel will help a lot because money is really tight; the parcel will give my children the extra food they need.”

CFFC’s Emma Woods-Bolger said: “We have run the meal appeal for a few years now. We usually deliver the packs just before Christmas.

“But, this year after consulting with the children’s centres we decided that the food packs would actually be most needed by the family’s post-Christmas.

“Ten per cent of Calderdale homes are amongst the most deprived in England. As a local charity, we exist to improve the lives of people living in Calderdale by raising and distributing funds and target actions to make a positive difference and this is just one of the ways we can help support local people.”

The project was supported by Halifax’s Asda supermarket.

Asda, Halifax, community champion, Amanda Clegg, pictured, said: “We support the meal appeal each year, this year 85 vulnerable people have benefited in Calderdale, we are always happy to support the project.”